Czech Bramborak (Crispy Potato Pancakes with Marjoram)

About This Recipe

Czech Bramborak is a real, traditional Czech dish, known as Crispy Potato Pancakes with Marjoram. Grated potato pancakes seasoned with garlic and marjoram, fried until deeply golden and crisp at the edges, a beloved Czech street food.\n\nBramborak has been a staple of Czech home cooking and market stalls for generations, distinguished from similar potato pancakes across Central Europe by its signature use of dried marjoram and garlic in the batter.\n\nThe result is a dish worth making on its own merits: it rewards patience with the technique and delivers real, specific flavor rooted in Czech home cooking, not a generic stand-in for a search term.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 1 kgstarchy potatoes(peeled)
• 2eggs
• 4 tbspall-purpose flour
• 4garlic cloves(minced)
• 1 tbspdried marjoram
• 1 tspfine sea salt
• 0.25 tspblack pepper
• 4 tbspneutral oil(for frying)

Instructions

1. 1

   Grate the potatoes

   Grate the potatoes coarsely, then squeeze out as much excess liquid as possible using a clean towel.

2. 2

   Make the batter

   Mix the drained grated potato with eggs, flour, garlic, marjoram, salt and pepper.

3. 3

   Heat the oil

   Heat oil in a wide skillet over medium-high heat.

4. 4

   Fry the pancakes

   Spoon the batter into the pan to form pancakes about 10 cm wide, flattening slightly, and fry for 4 minutes per side until deeply golden and crisp.

5. 5

   Drain

   Drain briefly on paper towels.

6. 6

   Serve

   Serve immediately while hot and crisp.

Variations

• •

  Add finely diced bacon to the batter for extra richness.

• •

  Some households add caraway seeds along with the marjoram for extra depth.

• •

  Serve with sour cream or applesauce on the side.

Storage

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of water or stock to loosen the texture.

Frequently Asked Questions